'&' THE SCRANTON TRIBUNE FRIDAY. FEBRUARY 2. 1808. 5 ' " r Jtff" CITY GOVERNMENT AT THE CAPITAL Claim Made That It Palls Through Lack of Partisanship. DETAILS OP INEFFICIENCY CIIARQED The Streets ol IVnsliliigton, It l As sorted, Am No Hotter I'rtvod and Not Nearly Ho Well Clcnncd, IU Lights nnd Wnlor Aro Worse, mid lis Government Less JiMclnnt Tlmn In I'nrtlsnn Now York. (Vnnhlngton Letter In the Sun. This Is the only city In the United States that Id not ruled by Its own citizens. Just now n feeble effort Id belnir tnndo to secure local self-government, though It has no larger prom ise of success than nnv of those that havo preceded It. The agitation Is In teresting chiefly as showing that hi the absence of many of the usual features of municipal government that tiro ob noxious to the advocates of local non partisanship, the administration of tho business nffali-H of the community Is Hot better than that of other cities. The arguments of the agitators prove that other communities, where partis anship Is constant and rampant, have little to fear In a comparison with Washington. Citizens of tho district are extremely cautious about criticising the local ad ministration or any part of the na tional government. It is the traditional and sustained policy to keep all por tions of Influence In a pleasant state of mind toward the people here. "The conditions here are, or could easily bo made, the Ideal of tho advocates of local non-partisanship," said an Intel ligent citizen who was an active local politician before his business In the departments Induced him to become a resident of the capital. The population of the district Is 280,000, which is enough to make experiments in local government significant. Certainly there never was a better opportunity for ex periment. KVen without any change In methods we should be able to see some of the beneficent effects of non-par-tlsanshlp that its advocates promise when their principles nre adopted. ADVANTAGES. "Among tho 2SO.O0O people there are many men of wealth, who take pride in the beauty and good government of their town. An unusually large pro portion of the whole Is made up of well-to-do people. Probably no other city has as large a percentage of citizens with a llxed Income of from $1,200 to $5,000 a year. These are forces for good administration The rate of growth of the town is about the average of other cities of tho same class, and It is rea sonable to estimate that in twenty years or less tho population will reach half a million. We have parks wisely planned, wide avenues and streets meeting at monument circles, arboreal suburbs, fine homes, and the 'magnifi cent distances' that are without paral lel. Everything is ripe for an adminis tration of business affairs that will make the place, without extravagant outlay, a model for all the world. Un der the present system there are no ward politicians keeping bosses In pow er to pervert the proper course of pub lic expenditures. Tho jobbery com plained of In most communities does not lay its heavy charge on every dol lar of tax money. The affairs of tho town are not run with an eye single to the welfare of a political party. "Yet in the arguments for local self government toned down to save th'o feelings of commissioners and legisla tors it is asserted that tho people of Washington aro forced to drink the pol luted, unflltered water of tho Potomac, than which only the water of Jersey City Is less drinkable. The water is obviously dirty, though that does not necessarily imply that it is unwhole some, but it is impure under the tests of the chemist and the mlcroscoplst. Experts have affirmed that In its un flltered, unboiled state. It Is detri mental to health and Is in some degrea responsible when the citizen la not able to resist the encroachments of disease. It Is contended that by a process of filtering- It is easily possible, without great expense, to make tho water more potable, or at least less dis pleasing to the sight; that many n city less financially aide, has drawn Its pure water from distant hills and brought It Into Its homes. The advocates of local self-government assert that If the form of government were changed to that of other cities, no such condition of the water supply could endure. Evi dently they forget Jersey City. UNIJEAI.THFUI, AND DIRTY. "The death rate of Washington seems to support thlB argument. It i.s high er than that of most, If not all, North ern cities of the same class. This is partly due, of course, to the greater mortality among tho blacks, and part ly due to the malarial conditions. Hut these conditions can be changed. The signs of inefficient administration nre frequent enough to maue that count among tho causes. An epidemic of diphtheria or scarlet fever Is among the rarest oi things In a well-regulated community of this size. At this mo ment there is what would be called elsewhere an epidemic of each. The new cases of diphtheria in one week were fifty-eight This may mean In efficient methods of seclusion or a bad state of tho water supply, and of the atmosphere, or both. Typhoid fever is not an uncommon thing here, even in the winter months. Yet sanitarians assert that It is possible to make Wash ington a healthful as well as a beau tiful city. "Foliage covers a multitude of sins. Just now the veil of leaves Is with drawn, and the place is naked to the eye. It Is undeniably dirty. Covered as miles of Its tree-lined streets are with cracked, uneven asphalt, show ing bad inspection, they are not kept clean by the sweeping machines nnd the negro laborers. Ilesldes being bad ly put down In many cases, the pave ments have no proper drainage, al though the natural topography is such as almost to require skill to prevent self-drainage. On n rulny day tho streets of no ring-ruled city are mud dler. There aro virtually no street crossings. To go down the southwest side of Pennsylvania avenue It to wade through muddy water abqve the shoo tops. The sidewalks are atrocious, made of soft red bricks that are us uneven as the course of true love. I.lttlo puddles of water stand for n full day nftr a rain. About Center Market at this season of the year there Is an atmosphere of carelessness. In the street the black man builds, bis fire to cook his coffee and bacon, un disturbed by tho easy policeman, who does not always wear his coat but toned, whllti on duty und who Is usual ly lacking In dignity. He leans against a lamp-post nnd chats as amiably with tho colored man as though tho latter wor'o a political power. The muddinesa' about tho railway stations gives to the visitor u painful first Impression of the capital city such ns I have not had on reaching many cities that are ruled by political parties. UEIIIND THE TIMES. "At the two railway stations north ern visitors are astonished nt the mot ley collection or dirty, rickety cabs, coupes, and carriages, to which horses lit only for the Imneynnl nre attached nnd driven by Jehus equally ns dirty nnd dilapidated. The railway com panies have long desired to establish a line of respectable-looking vehicles tit for decent people to ride In, but are unable to get the promise of the com missioners for proper rules und regu lations against tho competition of the crnzy cabs that now hang about the stntlons. "Street lighting Is no better and no cheaper here than elsewhere. The qual ity of the gas is about that of other towns, but It Is not good. The propor tion of electric lights Is not greater than elsewhere. Not being governed by popular vote, it would bo easy for the district administration to solve the problems of lighting that other cities ure restrained from attacking by the political influence of corporations The price of gas should be lower or else the company should pay a profit Into the treasury, ns In Paris. Electric light ing might be made so cheap as to en able a much larger proportion of pri vate houses to use the current. "The streets are abominably cut up by street railway lines, a part of which are underground electrln nnd a part horse. Tho continued use of the latter seems to bo due to the leisurely way In which the slow-moving traction company replaces its burned power house. If tho building goes on no fas ter than the removal of the bricks of the burned structure, It must be months more before the horses are abandoned. Horse cars go bumping along Pennsylvania avenue on rails that are loosely laid down without spikes. THE COLORED ELEMENT. "This reminds me of one respect In which Washington Is unfortunate. Its labor Is virtually all black, and there fore mortally slow and Incredibly In efficient. Wherever the Washington negro does not constitute the solo source of labor supply, wherever he has any competition, ho must Inevitably go under. He can't polish a shoe, lly comparison with the quick, but thor ough Italian bootblack his work Is that of a whltewasher compared with a skilled painter. Ho Is shiftless, mostly caring only to earn enough to tnke him to a picnic, or where he Is Industrious he Is not expert. His shine does not shine on the heels nnd edges. This Is true of whatever ho does. In sweep ing the street or In following the sweep ing machines, he gets up most of the refuse, but not all. It is astonishing WISE "Now. Charles let us mako a list of vour debts." "Ono moment, dear uncle, till I havo filled up your Inkstand." Tit Hits. VI si tor -"Pat fays he's descinded from some of the greatest houses in Ireland." Mike "MiiMlia! So ho lld, many a toime on a ladder!" Tlt-Hlts. Julia "Did you say Jcannette is trying to get into InislnttsV Jennie "Ves." "What kind of business does she want to get into?" "Everybody's." Yonker's Statesman. Not Unreasonable Supposition. Yonst Whore do they get tho gold leaf from? .Crimsonbeuk Oh, I believe I bey gather them from the trees out at the Klondike. Yonkers Statesman. "I find $12 a hlsh price for this parrot. I suppose he speaks a good deal?" "No, not at all. but ho understands every thing." Flleguido lllattcr. Willis "Parker's salary was doubled n. short time ueo, ho X bear." Walucu "Yes, It was; but It got him in lots of trouble." Willis "How's that?" Wal lace "Ills wife found it out." Town Topics. "Maud Is going to give the Sunday school Christmas treo n lovely doll with real hair. Isn't it Just like her?" "It isn't Just like herlf it has real hnlr." Indianapolis Journal. Two newsboys In the gallery witness a performance of "Hamlet." In the last scenes, after Hamlet has killed Lacites and the King, nnd tho Queen lias died of poUou and Hamlet of a. poisoned wound, one of tho newsboys exclaims: "Jim, what a time that must havo been for ex tra specials!" Tit-Hits. . Information. "This." said tho littlo boy who was showing his eastern rela tives the suburban beauties of Chicago, "Is tho park that General Jackson was named after." Chicago Tribune. Another Clever Woman. "My wife can tell what time It is in the middle of the nfght when It Is pitch dark." "Ilnw does she do It?" She makes mo get up und look nt the clock." Chicago Record. "I hear that the crowd hooted you when you appeared at tho Pedllngton Theater Royal." "False, mo boy, false," replied tho eminent tragedian. "All false. There was no crowd.'" Household Words. Stranger. "I notlco this handsome npartment house is illuminted, and thero aro sounds of roverly within. What Is it? A grand wedding?" Resident "No, sir. The Janitor's funeral." New Yoik Weekly. Disappointed in His Boy. "Smith's jiifct about discouraged trying to mako some thing out ot that boy of his." "Yes?" "I saw him today, und he told me ho had Just bet n pot of money on the foot bull tram the boy plays in, ami lost it nil." Detroit Journal. "No Alternative. "Don't leno tho table," said tho landlady as her new boarder rose from his scanty breakfast, "1 must, madam. It's hard wood, and my teeth aro not what they used to be." Detroit Free Press. Magistrate "The gamekeeper declares that he raw you take tills pheasant. What havu you to w.y to that?" Prisoner-"! only took It for n laik." Magis trute "Six mouths ror making such nn ornithological error.' Tit-Hits. When Lord Duftcrln wus viceroy of India, he hud u "shlkurry." or spoiling servunt, wheso xneclul duty was to at tend tho visiters at tho vlecregnl court on their shooting excursions. Returning one day from one of theso expeditions, tha "shlkarry" encountered tho viceroy, who, full of courteous solicltudo for his guests' enjoyment, asked: "Well, what sort of sport has Lord - had?" "Oh," replied the scrupulously polite Indian, "tho young 13ahlb shot divinely, but Clod was very merciful to the birds." Kx change. At 2 n. m.-"Vho Is It? What do you want?" (Voice from without ( "It's Willie (hie), grundmu. forgot (hie) lutch key," "Onndnesi me, how much that dsar how his ways nre tolerated. Tho door boy nt ono of tho largo dry goods stores Is a well-dressed' colored boy, who chews gum incessantly its ho lolls and lazily opens tho door. Undoubt edly tho lack of cfllclcnt laborers tells on the public work, but that Is not the sole source of trouble. A few weeks ngo thero was an ley pnnw fall nnd the walks were covered. Here and thcru the sidewalks were cleaned by resi dents, but about every government building they remained Icy until the sun turned the Ice to slush. The slush wus allowed to stay until It was dried by the sun nnd tho winds of heaven. "Tho appearance of the streets Is much affected by the colored citizen. His nmbltlon, when he prospers, Is to own an express wngon. Ills -wagon Is a blight. Hamshackle and rickety, It Is saved from collapse by an assort ment of ropes, strings nnd scraps. It is covered with scraps of rng carpet or old canvas, and drawn by a horse rescued from the glue factory to Its own dlHgust. One powerful argument against local self-government la the largo porccntngo of negroes. It Is not surprising that ambitious citizens with the ability to Influence the votes of these people should see glory and emoluments for themselves In a pop ular government. POLICEMEN. "With regard to the police and de tective force of Washington, the less said the better. Discipline, system, and businesslike management all are miss ing. Three or four policemen will make a great hullabaloo over arresting a drunke negro whose only desire Is to bo allowed to amble his way home ward unmolested, but nt least one mur der has been committed recently In open daylight by a man known to ev cty police station In the city, yet the criminal still breathes the air of free dom. Young colored boys, whose au dacity Is amazing, have made It un safe for women to go to market in broad daylight for fear of being k'nocked down nnd robbed of their pecketbooks. Hnlf a dozen enses of this kind occurred In one week last fall, one Indy being assaulted on her own doorstep, and no arrests were ninde. Policemen are allowed in Wash ington to make arrests without a war rant, nnd they havo even been known to arrest persons ugalnst whom no charge had been made merely on the fanciful suspicion of the policemen themselves thnt their victim might possibly havo committed an offence. There Is authority for the statement that a house owner who protested against the forced entry of a pollco mun Into his home nt night to arrest a person who was not there, nnd for whom he had no warrant, wns re buked in court by the police Justice for resisting nn officer. "Yet in spite of all these drawbacks to a system of municipal government In which kissing goes by favor, and AND OTHERWISE. COMPILED BY THE POCKET MAGAZINE. boy's voice sounds like his father's." Brooklyn Life. A New Zealand nuthoi recently applied to Mr. Kipling for advice, and received tho following t.otc, which he says, ho considered "encouraging": "No man's advice is of the hast benefit In our busi ness (and I am a very busy man). Keep on trying till you either fall or succeed." Professional Call Delayed. Now Wo. man Physician "George, Is thre any prospect of it clearing off very soon?" George "No; why?" N. W. I'. "Mrs. Smith sent tor mo tn como over and see her throe days ago, and I have been waiting ever since for It to clear off. I am sure she will bo ex porting mc." Philadelphia North Amer ican. "t told you." said Mr. Gobbler, as he gazed reoroachfully at his wifo through the slats of tho coop whero nho was be ing fattened, "not to como near tho house until after Christmas. Why did you dis obey me?" "I just couldn't help It, dear," said Sirs. Gobbler. "They killed Mrs. Peafowl yesterday, and I did so want to seo how sho was dressed." Detroit Freo I'rtss. A now and alarming phase of the do mestic service pioblem Is revealed by an advertisement that recently uppenred In a London paper under the heading, "Sit uatlons Wanted." It reads as follows: "As Plain Cook, General Servant, or House Parlormaid: whero thero Is a dojr or dogs. Pug preferred: uge 3S. E. E. S., etc." New York Times. Slngerly (to friend recently married) Why, old man, you look sail and dejected Havo you met with a disappointment in your matrimonial venture? Wodcrly Alas! yes. .My wife cannot sing. Slngcrly-Can't sing! Why, man, that ought to cause you to rejoice. 1 think you are to bo congratulated. Wederly Hut tho tiuublo Is that she thinks she can. Chicago News. Not the Wny to Cork. Charles. Kenny, dining once at the house of a friend, chanced to swallow a piece of cork wltti his wine, tho result being u severe fit ot coughing. "Take care, my friend," said his next neighbor, with a rather feeble attempt nt humor, "that's not tho wny for Cork!" "No," gasped the Irrepres sible sufferer, "It's tho way to kill Ken ny!" London Figaro. Heck "What became of that charming little north Bide widow you used to ravo so much about?" Peck "Oh, she's married now." Heck That's too bad; but yon al ways were unlucky with your lovo af fairs." Peck "Yes; decidedly so." Beck "Hy tho way, whom did she marry?" Peck "Mo." Chicago News. An old Georglu negro hearing that his former master had decided to enlist in the Cuban urmy, said to him: "Marso Tom, dnuu you do no bicli fool thing ez dat doan yo do It!" "Why shouldn't I?" "Knse, Marso Tom" and here tho old man lowered Ills voice "you's got a touch er do rheumatism, en you can't run ez fast now ez you tun en-ilurln' er do war!" Atlanta Constitution. A Puzzle. Willie Addlepate There Is ono thing 1 cawn't understand, doncher- Chollle Noddlcklns What's that? Wlllio Addlepate Why. when we stop to consldeh aw how uncomfortable it Is In a crowd why, aw J cawn't seo why it is. that there nre always more people In u crowd than thero aro wtiero there is no crowd. Puck. Relieved. "Horns," cautiously inquired Nagus, literary editor of the Dally Bread, "aro you goln to write a ChrlHtmus story this year, as usual?" " have already written one," replied the other, "nnd sont It to another paper." "Horns," exclaimed Nugus. Impulsively slapping him on tho back, "let's go out and tako something)" Chicago Record. Fr. Dugnn "I nm afraid, Bridget, that you are ub much at fault In this quarrel ns Patrick. You must learn to cxerclso forbearance, nnd remember thut tt soft uuswer turueth away wrath." Bridget O'Hnollhan "Begorra, yer riverenco, that's Jlst wot stharted tho throublc. Pat where local polltlcB cuts no figure, nnd where tho humble citizen therefore hns little show, It Is not likely that the community, fast becoming cosmopoli tan In Its character, will desire to go back to the system In vogue when political suffrage was enjoyed In the District of Columbia. "Those were tho days of Jobbery and corruption, of rotten pavements und endless mudholes. Those were the days of tho 'featherdustcr legislature," so called because ns each day's session closed tho newly enfranchised states nun would curry away every portable article of furniture from the city hall and other public buildings, oven In cluding the spittoons und feather dust ers." m HMVTHOKNi: AVH UP. Tried to Wrllo n Novel on tho Inci dents nl Uvnngclinc. From the Washington Post. A man from Massachusetts told the following in one ot tho hotels last night: "Few people know that Hawthorne came near publishing Evangeline, ' which Longfellow wrote, but It Is u fact. A few inrs ngo there died In Salem, Mnss., on old gentleman named Horace lngersoil, who wns not rein ted to Rob lngersoil, but who was a won derful man in his wny. Years and years ago Horace lngersoil heard the story of 'Evangeline' from a woman friend ot his who had been spending some time In Nova Scotia. One day tho old gentleman, who was it personnl friend of both Hnwthorne and Longfellow, was dining nt Longfellow's home In Cambridge, and Hawthorne was thero also. After dinner lngersoil told to the two writers tho story of 'Evangeline,' nnd Hawthorne decided then nnd thero that he would make a novel of It. He wrote a few chapters und then gave It up In despair, because he found that the subject was too grand for his pro saic pen. So lngersoil gave Long fellow permission to use the nar rative, nnd under his poetic touch it blossomed Into one of the masterpieces of literature. I know lngersoil personally and ho told months before his death. And, by the way, it Is worthy of mention that ln gersoil died in the houo In which Haw thorne lived for many yeurs." A Wnlghty Consideration. "t wish." said tho bookkeeper, discon tentedly, "that 1 hud taken up n rclcntlito career. I've a great mind to be an nslion- omer. yet." "Are you urea ot figures; - "A little." "Hut If you wore nil astronomer yon would be obliged to make calculations on a scale Hint you never havo to attempt now. YollVl havo to deal with millions and billions and quadrillions of miles in stead of hundreds and thousands of dol lars, as you do now." "That's vciy true. I3ut 1 wouldn't be nearly so likely to lose my position It' I made a mistake." Washington Star. camo homo from his worruk nnd axed wot was thero for dinner. He was tolled un' hungry uiv cross as two sthlcks, so ho was, an' I glvo him a soft answer,'' "Well, what did you say?" "Cowld mush." Detroit Freo Press. A pompous bishop was having his por tralnt painted, and, after sitting for nn hour in silence ho thought he would break tho monotony. "How nro you get ting along?" he inquired. To his aston ishment tho artist, ubsorbed In his work, replied: "Move your head a littlo to tho right, and shut your mouth.'' Not being accustomed to such a form of address, his lordship asked, "May I ask why you address mo In that manner?" Tho artist, still nbsorbed In his work "I want to take oft a littlo of your cheek Tlt- Blts. An Actor's Excuse. Alter his first great successes. W. S. Penley had to act In many p,ays which somehow did not seem to pleaso tho public. Somo of theso ho Just kept alive by his brilliant "gag ging." On ono occasion, when a wretch ed play hud been going for somo weeks In this manner, tho conceited young .iu thor camo behind nnd asked Mr. Penley why ho "gagged" so much. To this Mr. Penley replied promptly: "That's all very well for you, old man you live in town; but, you see. 1 live In tho country, and have to catch the 12.13 from Waterloo!" Tit-Bits. A Loulsvllio gambler on ono occasion thought ho had a good thing when a stranger who looked as If ho had plenty of money camo ulong nnd suggested u friendly game of poker. The game ran along smoothly for a while, und at last, when tho opportune moment came, tho gnmbler dealt to tho guiltless stranger four queens and gave himself four kings, Tho betting becamo Interesting light away, and after all the cash was up and It camo to a show-down tho Loulsvllio man laid down nis four kings nnd tho stranger showed four uces. "Tako tho money, mister!" gnsped tho astonished Kentueklan; "tako it. If you have the heart to do so; but I'll be darned If that wus the hand I dealt you!" Argonuut. A good (nnd true?) story is going tho louiid which shows to what extent tho violent ebullitions nnd caprices ot the Gorman emperor nro regarded In his own country. An English gentleman. It ap pears, was walking with a friend in Cu ter den Linden, nnd in tho courso of u discussion on tho Kaiser's conduct com mitted a grievous error of Majestats He. leldlgung. "The orrreror's n fool," bo exclaimed, whereupon nn English-speaking police ofllcer tarped him on tho shoul der and said, "You must como mlt mo to zo police station." "What for?" asked the Englishman, 'Meln lurr did call zo kaiser a fool," replied tho man. "No, no," urged tha onto Briton. "It was tho Russian emperor 1 was talking about." "Dat vlll not vasli," went on tho eon- stublo; "dere Is no emperor n fool ex- cept tho German etnpetor." After which, Damo Rumor hus It, tho pollco ofllcer und tho Englishman agiced to keep each oth er's secret, and parted on good terms. Westminster Gazette. Natlnnnl Characteristics. A German and a Frenchman sat opposite each other at a tublo d'hoto in n certain hotel in Switzerland. "You aro a Frenchman, I suppose?" Inquired tho German at tho commencement of tho meal. "Yes," was tho reply, "but how do you manage to find that out?" "Bccauso you eat so much bread," said tho German Thero wus a long pause. When tho dinner wus over tho Frenchman In turn questioned his vls-a-vls. "You are u German, I pre sume?" "To bo sure; but tell me. pruy, how you made that discovery." "IIociiuho you ute so much of everything." was tho dry retort.-London Figure. "Kismet." A lady living In a fashion able quarter has u bit of statuary bear ing the inscription "Kismet." Tliu house muld wns duslng tho room tho other day whon tho mistress uppenred. "Bhure, ma'am, what's tho inanin' of tha 'rltln' on tho bottom of this''" asked tho maid, referring to tho Inscription on the statue. "Kismet means 'futc,' " replied tho mistress. Bridget was limping painfully when out with her sweetheart not long afterward, and hn asked: "what's tho matter, Bridget?" "Faith," was tho answer, "I have the most tlrrlble korns tin mo kismet I" ,1-rora Tlt-Blts. K K .- -" 45UYAERE OR. tv Pay More 4) Elsewhere . sic" kflnrmi n tri K IS f Mi K & ft." "Clinchers" for Friday In addition to the large number of special items advertised in yester day's evening papers we shall place on sale today the following list of stupendous trade winners. Every item is a total eclipse in itself. Surprisingly Low Prices In Fine Dress Goods Friday has always proved Itself to be a great stock reduction day in our Dress Goods Depart ment. Special efforts will be made today to fur ther diminish a cumbersome stock. Here are a few prices that will do it. fSj. Ha,f Wool Figured and Plaid y( Dress Goods, 16c w SftOv s&?1 grade, special 2c soffits' &K& Just received, 4c pieces black Q$su JjList. and colored figured dress vQ-ZS: sife goods, real value zzc, o4t special JiD JVJiA Black Figured Dress 1 V fe -A Goods, 22c grade, special C ' I fcsvSsJ-''' All of our 39-cent Spring nfcS Dress goods that have. come in x within the last ten days, 0 special ZvC Our regular 49c Wool Spring Dress Goods, compris ing about thirty-five different patterns and weaves, ,0 special oyC Black Figured Dress Goods, also Plain Black j. Mohair, regular price jjc, special C All Wool Black Figured Dress Goods, 69-cent 0 grade, special ZVC Beautiful Silks At Bargain Prices Black Brocaded Silks, 69c grade, special 4C Satin Rhadame, guaranteed all silk, real value -, 7c Olllv VtJIUUIS, III an uivr new cnccio, icuiui Ofv price, $i.jo, special oC Extra Quality Checked Wash Silks. 49c grade, Q special "C Our Bargain List All of the following are to be had at or near the bargain counter in the center of the store all day today. 8c Dress Ginghams, choice of any 4c yiC Cotton Crash, special 2c cc Shirting Prints, choice of any 2c 8c Fancy Outing Flannels, special 4c 10c Bates' Seersuckers, special 5c jc Indigo blue prints, best quality, special SV2c i2cyard wide printed Cambrics, special 6y2c 8c Pillow Cases, ready for use, special 5c $1.00 White Crochet Spreads, regular price 1.00, special 79c 7c Pure Linen Crash, special 5c 4c, yard wide, Unbleached Muslin, special 3c 6c, best quality, 4-4 Unbleached Muslin, special 434c ioc Soft Finish Cambric, as gooct as Lonsdale, special 5c 6c, yard wide, Bleached Muslin, special 4c 39c Bleached Table Damask, special 25c 49c Bleached and Unbleached Sheets, best quality, size 81x90, special 37c ioc, All-Linen, Fringed Napkins, special 5c 1 jc Brown Sheeting, 10-4, special lie 6c Checked Nainsook, suitable for Men's Aprons and Shirts, special ; 3c All of our 1 cc Turkish Bath Towels, special... 10c All of our 1 cc pure linen Towels, special 10c All of our 18c pure linen Towels, special 12Jc LEBECK & CORIN W4'A'A-a'A'AW4W'4""'AW"'A'W WILY!" UAlXiltOAUS Sl'IINI). Thor Aro the Crout Ilbursiiig Aguucici o( tho Country. From tho Sun. The railroads of the United Sffites expend In a year a sum more thun ?100,000,000 in excess of the total ex penditures of the United States gov ernment, and this computation does not Include nearly $250,000,000 paid In tho form of Interest upon railroad hond.s or guaranteed stock and from JSO.000,000 to 100,000,000 paid III the form of dividends to stockholders. The ral!roadj, Indeed, are the great dis bursing agencies of the country, hand ling never less than a billion dollars In 11 year and disbursing It all, or prac tically all, for railroads as a rule do not kesp large bank accounts, and do practically a cash 'business, turnlrfg money rapidly, An estimate mndo by one of the scientific papers a short time ago gavu as the average annual expense ot American railroads In maintaining tho condition of their roadbeds $75,000,000, u i , v il v:ni:v .u'.'v t lv11 ai n" f v w ;v . y rr .-o.tc-v. "m&&msmmmmmmsmsm&mffmmi 124 and afvxi yjjl. n k S5QV nsosa S2 sn v v c&i - w m m K ezs& liBKHYi BMffiL v m m is R s Wi E$ a wh m fits Wyoming" vwry fxjt mA i? ouy:? mruztji mcun mjrx ik jtc rtiAv bj vrk r JKfrl87izi2&r? besides $35,000,000 fur the purchase of rails, ties and sleepers, and $15,000,000 for the construction of now bridges. The railroads of the country spent last year for fences, sign-boards, signals, and wnteh towers $3,500,000' and for printing and advertising $8,500,000. Very few persons have nn accurate Idea of the extent to which railroad expenses aro to bo subdivided, .supposing, prob ably, that tho largest Items of expen diture ar) for cars and engines, fuel, emnlcyes, and termlnuls. Such Is the fact, but there are other large Items, and one of the largest of these Is the Item of taxes. Hallroad corporations In tho United States are heavily taxed, and they pay collectively In u year, It haa been estimated, $4),000,000. There is then another item which figures largely in all railroad accounts, the Item of legal expenses, railroads be ing drawn into almost col slant litiga tion and requiring at all tlVnes the ser vices of counsel. It Is estimated that expensed uf American rallrcads for pro fessional legal services amount In a year to about $10,000,000, nd thin is, f The Last of the Blankets The most pretentious store in town never arenmed of bargains such as we offer you. Look to your tried merchant for stability in merchandise, lowness of price and general satisfaction all around. We have still a large stock of blankets that ought to go. Some that we bought very recently at a cash figure came to us so cheap that we are offering them at an unheard-of bargain. They are large double blankets of cotton, but of good weight and worth fully 59c. Until the last is sold they will be marked 29c. Also about twenty pair of a better quality, worth 75c, 49c. All of our $6.00 slightly soiled all-wool blankets have been re duced to $3.98. And rather than carry over the balance of our $7.00 strictly all wool blankets, we have marked the same ,1 .1 3 , ,H ,1 Si ft .'1 .1 .1 ft "C it . . .X ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ,1 ft Si ft ft ft ft ft ft ft St ft ft ft s ft ft ft ft ft ft St ft ft ft X ft , .1 ft ft ft a ft ft ft 3 ft s St ft ft ft X X X X X KX X X X $4.98. Upholstery Department Silkolines in the latest styles nnd colorings, 36 inches -t r wide, were 15c; special. 1UC Cretonnes in all the newest colorings, 36 inches -t j wide, worth 25c; special IOC Tapestry in entirely new ef fects, 50 inches wide, fr worth 59c special 0"C High Art Tickings, corded effects, worth 35c 'Crr special ZiuL A x m i n s t e r Mo- quette Rugs, regular d no price 2.59 Pl.yo Fur Rugs, in white and grey, regular q j aq price 2. 7 5 pl.O Special Embroidery Values soo yards Cambric Embroid eries, none in the lot worth less than 8c; A n special 4jC One lot extra quality Cambric Embroideries, ioc grade, s special OC One lot Cambric Embroid- eries, I2c grade; special. 'C Ladies' Handkerchiefs One hundred dozen white hemstitched Handkerchiefs, 6c grade ; special 3c One hundred and fifty dozen Swiss Embroidered Hand kerchiefs, I2c grade; special 8c One hundred dozen Swiss Embroidered Handker- r chiefs, 15c grade; special 1 lC of course, exclusive of tho sums re quisite to meet claims for personal injuries or damage to property. Somo of the large railroad companies expend as much an a quarter of n million dol lars in a year for the settlement of such cases or the payment of' Judg ments recovered. Tills Item of expense on all American railroads Is ordinarily put nt about $5,000,000. tV serious acci dent may entail on a railroad company damages so lurge as to offset many months of pixiilt, nnd some railroads have been crippled for long periods by such cases. There nre in the United States S00. 000 railroad employes, 100.Q00 station men, 33,000 engineers, 40,000 fli;emen ami helpers. 2.-..000 conduces ad despatch ers. 65,000 trainmen, 20,000 machinists, 100,000 shopmen other than machinists. 20,000 telegraph operators and their helpers, 45,000 switchmen, flagmen and watchmen and 175,000 (rnckmen.' The dally pay roll on alt American rail roads combined, ofllcers nnd clerical staff included, amounts to about $2, 000,000 n day. X X X X X X X X X ft X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X W il -fc . . .'
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers